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Downtown Denver, Pennsylvania (1), Nov. 2013Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
A−
Schools in Denver · Cocalico School District

Denver’s public schools outscore 78% of Pennsylvania districts

In Denver, 48% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Denver, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.

#316of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
65%
▲ 10 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
48%
▲ 12 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.0K
▼ 8% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
PA 13.4
Schools in town
3
2,068 students on the public path
In brief

Denver’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 65% and math 48% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $19,963 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Cocalico MS, then Cocalico SHS. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Denver’s grade

A− Test scoresB Graduation

A−: better than 78% of Pennsylvania school districts, #316 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 78%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1859)Better than 79%
B+AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,486 test results and a graduating class of 259 could put Denver anywhere from B+ to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Denver’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,417 in math, 1,554 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Denver, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Denver El SchCocalico School DistrictB+
6–8Cocalico MSCocalico School DistrictB−
9–12Cocalico SHSCocalico School DistrictB

Denver’s public schools are run by Cocalico School District, which also serves Adamstown, East Cocalico and West Cocalico. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Cocalico School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 2,852 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 13.1 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$19,963PA $21,758 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading65%
State average 55.1% · 1554 students tested
Math48%
State average 36.1% · 1417 students tested

Denver vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Denver’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DenverA−Cocalico
East CocalicoA−Cocalico
West CocalicoA−Cocalico

All 2 neighbors share Cocalico with Denver, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Denver

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Pennsylvania’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Denverby address
Denver El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
460 students14:1Rate it →
Cocalico MS
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
617 students10:1Rate it →
Cocalico SHS
High · Grades 9–12
B
991 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Denver’s schools

Are Denver’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Denver children attend outscore 78% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #316 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 79%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Denver in?

Cocalico School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,852 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Denver kids go to high school?

Cocalico SHS, with 991 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Denver’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Cocalico School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Denver spend per student?

$19,963 in Cocalico School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Denver families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Denver → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Pennsylvania. Stars are from neighbors.